Emails show bid to oust Williamson Schools superintendent

FRANKLIN – Emails between Williamson County school board candidates and a local political activist who is also a major Republican Party campaign contributor have shed light on a united effort to oust Superintendent Mike Looney.

In an email leaked to The Tennessean, Kent Davis, a retired engineer who lives in Franklin, appears to be giving campaign strategies to candidates. He also writes about building a case against Looney after new board members are elected.

There are 11 candidates vying for seats on the Williamson County school board, with three incumbents. This latest email shows how contentious the race has become, in addition to a collective effort to back certain candidates.

The email appears to be addressed to 24 recipients, including District 4 candidate Paul Bartholomew, who is running unopposed; District 10 candidate Dr. Beth Burgos; District 2 candidate Dan Cash; and District 12 candidate Susan Curlee. State Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, is also among the recipients.

"In thinking this over I believe we can make the case he (Looney) is a top-down micromanager who does not trust his principals, managers and others," Davis writes in the email. "I will send materials that outline the case. The time for any ugly stuff should be done privately and kept out of the press and much as we would be tempted 'revenge' is not a strategy. A win for WCS and us will be for him to move on."

According to Campaign.com, Davis contributed thousands of dollars in 2012 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, political action committees and other Republican candidates in Tennessee and in other states.

Davis did not return a phone call, but he emailed that he routinely declines media requests because he retired from the public arena 20 years ago.

Burgos, Bartholomew and Curlee did not return phone calls. Cash's voice mail was full and was no longer accepting messages.

An additional email shows Debbie Deaver, who recently distributed a survey asking parents to participate in a Williamson County Schools survey, communicating with a public relations consultant to help with the race. She also did not return a call.

Meanwhile, Looney said that it was "hurtful" that some people don't appreciate the great work accomplished in recent years.

"But I am committed to remaining focused on preparing our schools for the 2014-15 school year. Our students and teachers deserve my full attention. I fully intend to honor my contractual obligation with WCS even when the going gets tough."

Early voting for the election began Friday and will go through Aug. 2. Election Day is Aug. 7.